A Decisive Classification system promises to make the following contributions:

·         Increase world productivity and GDP

·         Allow developing nations to utilize the wisdom of the developed world

·         Eliminate language barriers

·         Encourage the selection of lowest life cycle cost products rather than those with lowest initial cost

The Decisive Classification system is being developed by the McIlvaine Company and is accessible free of charge in the Global Decisions Orchard website.

All decisions are a sequence of classifications. The more relevant the classifications, the better the decision. In the increasingly international world it is also important that classifications be precise and that this precision is conveyed in the appropriate languages of which Chinese and English are the two most important.

The system is designed to assist purchasers in finding the right products in the air, water and energy sectors. But it is also equally useful to suppliers, researchers and even investors.

The purchaser typically starts with classifying his application.  McIlvaine has adopted the U.S. NAICS code system but with decisive additions.

 In this case McIlvaine has chosen to separate oil shale from shale oil. The reason is that they are two completely different applications. Shale oil can be extracted with hydraulic fracturing because it is a liquid.  Oil shale must be heated in-situ or mined in order to process the solid kerogens.

Classification of products is by market share rather than by theory.  A decade ago dissolved oxygen monitors were based on either galvanic or polarographic methods. Then optical instruments gained popularity. This created three categories.  Today optical instruments are dominant, so the first classification should now be optical or electrochemical. This classification is very valuable to the searcher because it indicates that it is more important to decide between optical and electrochemical than between specific electrochemical approaches.  A new development in this field uses nanotechnology. Therefore, the classifications are likely to change again.

The classification sequence includes applications, processes, products, goals, tasks and supplier companies. A process could be water treatment. The goals could be safety or air quality. One of the big problems with identifying supplier companies is the multiple names in Chinese and English.  This is overcome by a system whereby every company is identified by a number. The corporate name in Chinese and English is linked to the number as is the precise subsidiary name.

Tasks and products are identified in a parent–child system. Here is an example for catalyst maintenance for a power plant selective catalytic reduction system:

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The value of this classification to Chinese power plant operators is substantial. They have just recently installed their first DeNO_x systems and do not have the maintenance experience to be familiar with the options.  A system which clarifies that there are three main options is therefore very helpful.

The McIlvaine Company will continue to develop the system and is seeking input from associations, governments and corporations. A niche expert network is also being established to ensure that the classifications reflect the world’s knowledge.

For more information, click on: Global Decisions Orchard or contact the McIlvaine Company at editor@mcilvainecompany.com  847 784 0012.

The present world market for chemicals to combat air pollutants is $13.8 billion but will be growing at a healthy eight percent per year over the next five years. The larger ($24 billion) water treatment chemicals market will be growing by six percent per yr (real dollars).  These are the latest findings by McIlvaine Company through extracting forecasts from a number of its market reports.

Presently, lime, limestone and ammonia are the chemicals most used for air pollution control. However, the use of other chemicals will be growing at double-digit rates. In the U.S. this segment presently generates $1 billion in revenues.  It includes activated carbon, sodium products, bromine, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, amines and certain other chemicals.  These chemicals are used for mercury, acid gas, volatile organic compounds, odor, CO₂ and microbial capture or destruction.

The U.S. market for activated carbon for air pollution promises to be twice as big as the market in water pollution which is presently 400 million pounds per year.  Norit, Calgon Carbon, Albemarle and a joint venture involving ADA-ES are the major players. Bromine is competing with activated carbon.  Chemtura, Albemarle and ICl are spearheading the U.S. effort.

FMC has formed an environmental group to supply air pollution, water pollution and remediation products. Hydrogen peroxide is being promoted for NO_x control FMC, Tata Chemicals and Church & Dwight have formed Natronix to offer various sodium products for SO₃ and SO₂ capture. Potassium permanganate is used for odor control. Amines are used for CO₂ and SO₂ capture.

Lime usage in the U.S. is 20 million tons with revenues of $2 billion. Environmental uses are seven million tons but with the average price of $150/ton generate revenues of $1 billion.  Air applications now account for 80 percent of the total environmental revenues. Lhoist, Carmeuse, Graymont and Mississippi Lime are quite active in the U.S. market. The Chinese market for lime is presently 180 million tons with less than two percent used for air pollution control, but there will be double-digit annual growth over the next five years.

Dry injection for HCl control will boost lime sales in the U.S.  Another potential is the use in inhibited oxidation wet SO₂ removal systems. The resultant calcium sulfite sludge can be fixed with excess lime and encapsulate toxic metals. This eliminates the need for expensive wastewater treatment. Limestone will continue to be the most utilized reagent for SO₂ capture. The largest growth will be in China in the next decade.

Ammonia is used in various forms (anhydrous and aqueous).  A popular alternative is the purchase of urea and on-site conversion to ammonia. A huge NO_x control program is underway in China. A preference for the urea to ammonia approach has been indicated.

The $24 billion water and wastewater chemicals market will grow at levels well above GDP in the next five years, but its pace will be slower than air.  One reason is that non-chemical technologies such as Ultra-Violet disinfection and electrodeionization are taking market share away from chemicals. In the U. S., air chemicals presently represent 78 percent of the total for water.  This will increase to 85 percent over the next five years.

Information on these markets is found in:

FGD World Markets, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/air.html#N027